Leonard Rose (July 27, 1918 – November 16, 1984) was an American cellist.

He was born in Washington D. C. and in his younger years, took lessons from Walter Grossman , Frank Miller, and Felix Salmond . He is considered one of the great American cellists of the 20th century and was the first to achieve widespread international recognition. Completing his studies at Philadelphia's Curtis Institute at age 20, he joined Toscanini's NBC Symphony , almost immediately becoming associate principal. At 21 he was principal cellist of the Cleveland Orchestra and at 26 principal of the New York Philharmonic. As a soloist after 1951 he made many recordings, including concertos with conductors like Bernstein, Ormandy, Szell and Walter, and joined with Isaac Stern and Eugene Istomin in a celebrated trio. Finally he left, through his many years of teaching at the Juilliard School, the Curtis Institute and Ivan Galamian's Meadowmount Summer School, an indelible stamp on American cello playing. Not only did his students fill the sections of many American orchestras, notably those of Boston, Cleveland, New York and Philadelphia, but many soloists, including two of the most famous contemporary ones, Lynn Harrell and Yo-Yo Ma, were also his students. According to Yo-Yo Ma: "One of the marks of a great teacher lies not only in an ability to impart knowledge but also in knowing when to encourage a student to go off on his own. I remember vividly the day after a New York recital I played when I was fifteen: -- I came to a lesson and Mr. Rose said to me, 'You played very well but I would like you to take the Fourth Sonata of Beethoven and figure it out for yourself.' The Beethoven Sonata was an unfamiliar piece and, being a late work, is written very densely. The twists and turns of the writing are a real challenge to the imagination. It took many years before I was able to make sense of it. But it was the beginning of my conscious search for independence and individuality. It takes a great teacher to grant that kind of permission and encouragement." He died in White Plains, NY, of leukaemia.